Seneca Creek State Park: Clopper Lake Area! An Easy-Side-of-Moderate 6 Miles
Details
Seneca Creek Park: Clopper Lake Area Trails! An Easy-Side-of-Moderate 6 Miles
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Mid Atlantic Hiking Group does not require proof of vaccination. Not all hikers may be vaccinated. No organized carpools, but Social Distancing at all times. Mask inside and in crowded places.
If you exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 7 days, then please do not sign up. Also, inform the hike leader if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 within 7 days from the hike.
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This hike is 15 miles from D.C. and about a 45-minute drive from Baltimore
The park, comprised of 6,300 acres, extends along 14 scenic miles of Seneca Creek, as it winds its way to the Potomac River. The Clopper Day-Use Area contains many scenic areas, including the 90-acre Clopper Lake, surrounded by forests and fields. What now keeps Gaithersburg and Germantown apart is the northern portion of Seneca Creek State Park. Starting in the 1950s, the state government slowly acquired 6,609 acres of old fields and woodlands along Seneca Creek. Opened in 1980, the ribbony, creek-valley park winds across the county for roughly 16 miles from North of Gaithersburg to the Potomac River at Seneca. Only the park’s northern section has been developed. Its centerpiece is woodland-enveloped, 90-acre Clopper Lake.
This hike is a 6.1-mile, modestly hilly water-side excursion with about only 550 feet of elevation change. It passes through oak and hickory woods that also harbor dogwoods, redbuds, pines, and mountain laurels.
Transition Hike
This is a great hike for those wanting to transition from easy to moderate hiking since the main difference is distance. The hills are, for the most part, are very short but a few are a little steep but even those are short. All the hills are in spurts followed by nice long flat segments for plenty of recovery time. Also, we stop at the top of hills for our rest stops. Nobody gets left behind!
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Trail Information
Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Gaithersburg
Scenery: Woodlands, Stream Valley, and Lake Views
Length: 6.1 total miles
Trail Surface: Mostly hard-packed dirt: very rooty only all around the lake
Elevation Gain: 550 feet
Trail Type: Modified Loop
Skill Level: Easy-Side-of-Moderate Due to overall length and rolling hills
Season: Year-round
Exposure: Mostly shady but less so in winter
Local Maps: USGS Germantown, Gaithersburg, Seneca
Topo Map: Seneca Creek State Park: Clopper Lake Section Topographic Map
Facilities: Toilets at the visitor center, off-trail at picnic areas.
Park Entry Fee
There is no park entrance fee based on where we park.
Gear Suggestions
Click Here for suggestions regarding what to wear and what not to wear for hiking the trails.
Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine. Click Here to view the forecast for the park.
Our RSVP and Group Etiquette
Click Here to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.
Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions to Where We Meet for this Hike.
Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 8:45-8:55 a.m.
The Hike is at 9:00 a.m.
Please remember we are a volunteer-supported organization that values:
Our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer as leaders for Mid-Atlantic Hiking Groups volunteer leadership team. Click Here to become a part of the team! MAHG volunteers and members are very supportive, and encouraging, with a focus on safety while enjoying the excellent camaraderie and benefiting from the many health benefits of hiking and unplugging from the stress of day-to-day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of MAHGs core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to the organization's mission.
Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a volunteer supported tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and donations ARE tax-deductible.
Tax ID: 47-5141831
A Well-Mannered, Leashed Fido is Welcome on this Hike!
Let’s have fun out on the trails and see you there!
Toby: 703.899.6549
• Donations to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group are Tax Deductible.
Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charitable organization.
• Click here to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.
